The Churchs Thank-Offering to God Her King, Chapter 8

The Churchs Thank-Offering to God Her King · Chapter 8

p. 52CHAP. VIII.

Certaine Uſes or Concluſions from the premiſes, clearing forth unto us, The Church, by the DEFENCE that is ſtill upon the GLORY; their ſtability and innocency; then our duty from all.

SECT. I.

Wee know the Malignant Church by their envy at the People: the true Church, becauſe, they are the But againſt whom Malice bends her Bow, and yet is not able to over-throw them. They are delivered ſtill after that ſort, &c.

¶ 1.

THis will helpe us to decide a gre…t controverſie. There are two parties, both ſay, They are the Church, not in name, but in de…d whom may we believe? Enquir…, and vve ſhall have full ſatisfaction. What party have a Malignancy in them? both you will ſay; that's true enough; but I meane, a profeſſed enmity againſt God and goodneſſe. If vve can reſolve our ſelves in this point, Who theſe are? We may take full ſatisfaction to that queſtion. It is ſaid, There are no Malignant perſons in our Church, none that have a profeſſed Malignancy in them. No! Is there no Malignancy in that monſtrous Head? nor in it's app…rtenancies and adherents? None in that Tayle, thoſe lying Prophets? Is there no Malignancy in their ungodly deeds, and hard ſpeeches? None in thoſe words, which corrupt and eat, as doth a Canker kk2 Tim. 2. 17.2 Tim 2:17. None in all this? Perhaps it p. 53will not be granted, that there is a Malignancy in the Divell, who is their King, and hath the keyes of the bottomleſſe pit. But in courteſie I demand, and let them anſwer me as Men; actions we ſay, make the fulleſt diſcovery what ſpirit we are of: was not that a fruit of utter enmity, of deſperate Malignancy & madnes, to hurry th… Church, to drag her to the very brow of the Hill, there ſhocking her againe and again, that ſhe might (3 Kingdoms at one ſhock) fall down head-long from that precipice, or pinnacle? Certainly this muſt be granted to be a fruite of Cankered Malice: Surely then by the fruits you ſhall know them to be no Church, but in name ſo, and that name is, a Malignant Church. Wickedneſſe … 1 Sam. 24. 13.1 Sam 24:13proceedeth from the Wicked, as ſaith the Proverb, and that's the firſt Concluſion, clearely evidencing Who is That Church, and Who is the Church indeed And now I proceed to make further Diſcovery at this point, Who is the True Church?

¶ 2.

We muſt enquire, Againſt whom doth Malice bend her bow with full ſtrength, and ſhootes her Arrowes? Againſt whom doe theſe Malignants bend their hand (Ʋ …godly Deeds) and their Tongues (hard words) and their hearts (deſtructive intentions?) Who is the Butt, The white, the Marke? Who are they, againſt whom (in the pu…ſuance of their moſt Deſtructive Deſignes) theſe Malignants do carry all their ungodly Words, and hard Deeds levell unto? Looke which way is the Malignants aime, and that will point your eye directly to the Righteous Man. Whom do they hurry and drag unto the Brow of the Hill? The righteous evermore, and becauſe they do the thing that is right: therfore doth that Head, that monſtrous Head and Tayle, that Serpentine generation, and thoſe multitudes, with the King over them, bend all their councells, policies and ſtrength againſt theeſe people, becauſe they ſee the thing that good is. So it hath beene from the beginning, ſo it will be to the end of the world. And ſo vve conclude from the ſacred Writ, and from the preſent times, where are cleare and manifeſt proofes, That the Church muſt be tryed, as Silver and Gold is tryed: That Legions of Adverſaries doe ſeeke and vvait her deſtruction; that whole Armies of troubles, afflictions and ſorrowes doe abide her; but Her God vvill deliver her, from and out of all, that's her comfort, The Gates of Hell are againſt her, but ſhall not prevaile, that is her concluſion We proceed on to give hints of things, that vve may magnifie the arme of the Lord, and raiſe our ſpirits in the high praiſes of the Churches God.

¶ 3.

When vve have made full enqu…ry into theſe preſent and laſt Times, let us ſearch the Records of all times, and enquite there, Who it is over vvhom the fire hath no power? Who it is that God doth reſcue out of the Mouth of the Lyon? Whom doth He ſuffer to be carried to the brow of the Hill, and then makes way for eſcape? Whom doth p. 54He bring to the mountaine of ſtreights, and there is gloriouſly ſeene in their Salvations? For vvhom doth He divide the Sea, and makes paths in the great vvaters? For His enemies you wil… ſay. Yes, that they may purſue, then fall and ſinke like a ſtone, and riſe no more. But for whom doth He open a way, that they may goe over? It muſt be anſwered, He doth this, for His Church, His Iſrael, His ranſomed ones. The redeemed of the Lord vvill ſay ſo; He delivers them ſo, ſuch Salvations He vvorketh for them and them onelyonly: He delivers them after THIS SORT llDan. 3. 29.Dan 3:29. What ſort? None delivered as are theſe, after ſuch a ſtrange, vvonderfull and miraculous way, after THIS SORT. The fire had no power over them. But for their enemies, the flame of the fire ſlew them, and for thoſe enemies, that are ſuffered to goe on in their furious March, He takes off their Charet-wheeles, makes them drive heavily then: When? When they are upon the very heele of the righteous; then the vvaters over-whelme them, and they are made as ſtill as a ſtone mmExod. 15. 16.Exod 15:16. The Concluſion is, the Lord never made His Arme bare of fleſh, He never appeared in the Mount of ſtraits; but for His Church, and againſt His Adverſaries; but ſo He hath appeared this day.

¶ 4.

Who are they vvhom we ſee guarded, fenced, hedged about ^•; what more? There needs no more, and yet to aſſure their ſecurity, and that there is not a chinke open, whereat danger ſhall enter to doe them hurt, there is more added, and on every ſide nnIob 1. 10.Job 1:10. See their ſecurity! Whoſe ſecurity? the Churches, the Righteous mans ſecurity ever-more. They are hedged about, and on every ſide, not a cranny hole left open, whereat danger can come-in to doe them hurt. No? no.

Object. This carries not the face of Truth, you will ſay. See we not theſe ſort of men hurried, and ſpoyled, and peeled, expoſed to all danger from the tongues and hands of violent and bloody men? Are they then hedged about, and on every ſide, when dangers come in upon them at every turne? and they are made now Magormiſsabib ooIer. 20. 3.Jer 20:3, beleaguered-about, and terrour on every ſide.

Anſw Yes, and yet notwithſtanding all this, they are ſo hedged, as was ſaid, and nothing ſhall come unto them for their hurt.

They may be hurried, and peeled, and ſpoyled, and killed too, and yet all for their good. Reader, this will not ſeeme ſtrange unto thee, if thou readeſt and conſidereſt with all thy heart, that ſeventy yeares Captivity was for their good ppIer. 24. 5.Jer 24:5. Therefore we muſt ſet a marke upon theſe words; No cranny is left open, whereat danger can enter to doe this people hurt. They are a protected people ſtill; hedged about ſtill, and on every ſide. God keepes their p. 55perſons from troubles; or He delivers them by troubles; or ſupports them in troubles (as He did Iob, a miracle of patience; never any man ſo tryed as he, never any man ſo ſupported, as he) or opens a dore and paſſage through dangers, ſo bringing His Servants to the place where they vvould be. The Divell ſpake good Divinity, the Servants of the Lord will ſay ſo; Thou haſt made a hedge about him, and about his houſe, and about all that he hath on every ſide This then is the concluſion; Surely there is no inchantment againſt J…cob, neither is there any divination againſt Iſrael: according to this time it ſhall be ſaid of Jacob and of Iſrael, what hath God wrought qqNumb. 13. 2….Num 13:2▪

SECT. II.

From what God hath done, The Church gets aſſured confidence for time to come.

SEe againe, for we have obſerved the premiſes; here was an Head againſt the Church, that monſtrous Head; the Tayle againſt Her, That ſerpentine Tayle; that bulky-body, as the ſand for multitude, all theſe againſt Her, with their King over them, yet could doe Her no hurt. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing ſhall by any meanes hurt you qqLuk. 10. 19.Luke 10:19. Theſe are good words and comfortable, and now are they fulfilled in our eyes. All theſe enemies did what they could to ſting and poyſon the Church, but they were not able: All theſe blowed hard to quench the light of Iſrael, yet could not doe it; the Lord kept His Church alive as a sparke (which is ſaid of Noah rrforeign. Chryſ. Tom. 5. Ser. 6.) in the midſt of the roaring Ocean. Who would not feare this God? Who would not ſerve Him? None, but a God can deliver after this ſort: That was the concluſion, and none are ſo delivered, but His Church; He reprooveth Kings, nay Hee breaketh the Head of the Leviathan in peeces for His Churches ſake. And this is the Churches confidence for ever, from all theſe things, which her God hath done, they can aſſure their hearts for the time to come, That when they ſhall be brought againe to the Brow of the Hill, to her mountaine of ſtraits, their God will appeare there. He that brake the Heads of the Leviathan to peeces, Pharaoh and his great Hoaſt ſſPſ …9 14. Annona fuit hu… repoſita, qua veſceretur populus, Cal. in loc.Ps 9:14, gave that deliverance for meat to His people inhabiting a wilderneſse (i. e;) that when they ſhould be in ſtraights, then they might remember that deliverance, and be encouraged. He that gave them ſuch a Deliverance as was that, would p. 56not ſuffer them to ſinke now; That which God hath done, was a cordi…ll unto them in their fainting fits: Verily, verily, That God Who had ſo delivered would never never leave them nor forſake them ssHeb. 1…. …. foreign. Five Negatives.Heb 1, Thus the Church concludes now from the premiſes, which ſhe cals experiences; God, Who did deliver from ſo great a death, and doth deliver, in Him they doe truſt, that He will yet deliver tt2 Cor. 1.2 Cor 1, even ſo, Amen.

¶ 1.

This we muſt adde to the former Concluſion; as we muſt learne to truſt in Him, to ſet our hope upon Him aaPſ 78. 7.Ps 78:7, Who is Mighty: So alſo to ſet our heart upon Him; He is Mighty, and hath done for us mighty things, therefore vve muſt ſerve Him vvith all our M…ght. He hath done His Church good aſſuredly, with His whole Heart, and with His whole Soule bbIer 32. 41.Jer 32:41; that we might ſerve Him ſo with our whole heart, and with our whole ſoule. He hath not like a warfaring ccIer. 14. 8.Jer 14:8man, ſtayed with His Church for a night, and then away: No, He hath made His abode with her (He dwels in the flaming-buſh) He ſets. up His reſt there, becauſe there His ſoule delighteth: All this, that wee might be ſtedfaſt with Him, and turne backe no more in the Day (of Tryall) of battell. It is much to be thought of, that God dwels in His Church, when they are as a flaming Buſh, in the fornace of affliction, then Hee dwels with them; vvhichwhich mightily engageth His people to Dwell, to delight themſelves in the Lord, Who ſo regarded them in their low eſtate. He followed His Church vvith mercies after mercies, and deliverance after deliverance, and diſcoveries againſt diſcoveries, theſe followed hard, and over-tooke one the other Why ſo? That vve might follow after righteouſreſſe ddEſa. 51. 1.Isa 51:1, that v…e might foll…w on to know the Lord eeHoſ 6. 3.Hos 6:3; That our ſouls might follow hard after the Lord ffPſ 63. 8.Ps 63:8, and not ceaſe till we have taken hold of Him, & reſolved to cleave unto Him, to cloſe with Him in all His Commands and Promiſes: And ſo to ſay of the Lord, as He hath ſaid, Who hath choſen Zion, The Lord is our Reſt for ever, here will we dwell, for we have deſired it ggPſ. 132. 14.Ps 132:14. The poore man that was poſſeſſed with a Legion of Divels, but now delivered and in his right mind, prayed the Lord Chriſt, that he might be with him hhMar. 5. 18.Mark 5:18. he remembred his old bondage, how the caſe was with him, when under the power of that cruell Lord, and feared the like againe, if he ſhould depart from Chriſt, or Chriſt from him. I will repeat the former concluſion and joyne this with it, for we find them together, Becauſe thou haſt beene my helpe, therefore in the ſhadow of Thy Wings will I rejoyce. My ſoule followeth ha…d after Thee, Thy Right hand upholdeth me iiPſ. 63. 7. 8.Ps 63:7Ps 63:8.

p. 57SECT. III.

This will ſerve to cleare the Churches Innocency as the Noone-Day.

THe Church hath beene ſo and ſo delivered, after ſuch a ſort: They have beene in Deaths often; yet, behold ſhe lives, is confident and ſtrong in her God and power of His Might Nay, the Church hath bin as the Buſh, (that's her Type) all in a flame, and yet, as then, ſo now, vvhichwhich appeareth this day, not conſumed. Let us turne aſide, and ſee this great ſight; Certainly, then we muſt behold GOD IN THE BƲSH. When I ſay, GOD, then I have ſaid all, the Love, the Wiſdome, the Power of God, all exceeding towards His Church, the ſonnes of Iacob, in whom He beholds no iniquity, neither hath He ſeene perverſneſſe in Iſrael ggNum. 23. 21.Num 23:21. If we ſhall well conſider this, and ponder it in our hearts, we ſhall be well able to cleare the Churches innocency. I meane, if this, vvhichwhich hath been ſaid, ſhall ſinke downe into our hearts, it will be more cleanſing then Fullers-ſope to waſh-off a foule imputation, a notorious ſlander caſt upon the very face of the Church, and to render her, as white and cleare thereof, as the Snow in Salmon, or as raiments, white as the Light, ſo as no Fuller can white them.

It is ſaid, her people are enemies to their King; they ſeek not his peace; they have driven him from them. Nay, the ſlander riſeth higher; as high as that of Saul againſt David. That imputation then, and this now, runne together like paralell lines, We will ſee then how David cleares his innocency; and how God cleares him; and then vve ſhall ſee the very ſame thing done now. Thus David vvas ſlandered, That he conſpired againſt his Maſter; That he lay in wait to catch him in a hh1 Sam 22. 8.1 Sam 22:8Snare, &c. See how David cleares himſelfe. Now the Lord forbid that I ſhould doe this thing unto my Maſter, the Lords annoynted, ſeeing he is the annoynted of the Lord ii1 Sam. 24 6.1 Sam 24:6. Moreover, my Father, ſee, ſee here a good token, yea, ſee the skirt of this robe in my hand; had an uncircumiſed (a Jeſuited) perſon come ſo neare thee, he would have taken away thy head, and have rejoyced when he had done: for wickedneſſe proceedeth from the wicked, as ſaith the Proverbe. But my heart throbs within me, becauſe I have cutoff the lap of thy garment: Know thou now and ſee, that there is ver. 13.neither evill, nor tranſgreſſion in my hand; So David cleares himſelfe. Yes, if a mans owne words vvill cleare him, vvho vvill not ver. 11.appeare innocent? True, but here are more then vvords, yet they are cleare and ſimple; here is more then a ſingle proofe, for here are p. 58deeds too, as we may reade, if we will pe…uſe the Story. But the maine thing and to our purpoſe here, is this. How doth God cleare him? Thus; And David behaved himſelfe wiſely in all his wayes, and God was with him.kk1 Sam. 18. 14.1 Sam 18:14

Was that the clearing of Davids innocency? Yes, none like that: David behaved himſelfe wiſely, and God was with him; he could ſtrengthen his hand in God; he could encourage himſelfe in the Lord his God ll1 Sam. 23 16. 30. 6.1 Sam 23:161 Sam 23:301 Sam 23:6: A wicked perſon cannot doe ſo; if he doe; it is preſumption, and an unwarranted confidence. God vvill not take part with the wicked; He vvill not ſhine upon their councels. Yes, He doth, and ſo He i… ſaid to doe mmIob. 10. 3.Job 10:3. True, and we will anſwer that by the way.

God may ſhine upon the Councels of the wicked, and croſſe the proceedings of the juſt commanded and warranted from His owne Mouth. He may doe the firſt, as to make them confident, ſo to ripen the deſigne, and to haſten it's ruine; and to make Himſelfe more glorious in confounding them and their deſignes. He hath done the latter more then once, to quicken up His ſervants to more caution about themſelves, and their worke, and the manner of performing their Maſters charge.

But here is the point we drive unto; vvhen Deliverances come-in unto His people with the ſeale and impreſſion of the wiſdome and power of God upon them, this is ever, becauſe they are His people; He delights in them; there is innocency in their hearts, and their hands are pure from that great evill ſuggeſted againſt them. Such Salvations the Lord wrought for David, They had the impreſſe of the Almighties hand upon them. Saul hunted him like a Partridge: God would not deliver him into his hands; Hee reſcued him here and there and every where. It had not beene ſo, if innocency had not beene found in his hands, and integrity in his heart towards Saul, his peace and dignity, for he was the Lords annoynted. The Text is plaine, it needs not my Comment, but I'le apply it comparing the Salvations then and now together; for their accuſation is the ſame; crimes objected the ſame; their defence or apology the ſame; and God the ſame in reſcuing them, and clearing their innocency as the Noon day.

The ſervants of the Lord are thus accuſed at this day; they are enemies to their King, they ſeeke his hurt; they have driven him away, &c. Theſe ſervants of the Lord anſwer, God forbid, for who can doe ſo againſt the Lords annoynted and be guiltleſſe? They ſeeke the hurt of their King, their conſciences beares them Record, and God alſo, they ſeeke God for the King, and are not weary; Grace, Grace unto him, Peace, Peace unto him (and that is all) Peace bee both to him; peace to his houſe, and peace be to all that he hath aa1 Sam. 25. 8.1 Sam 25:8: peace, peace unto him, and peace be to his helpers, for their God helpeth them bb1 Chro. 12. 18,1 Chr 12:18.

p. 59They enemies to their King the Lords annoynted! So they are to their own ſouls, for ſo they pray for him.

They have driven him away from them! As a man drives away the candle, vvhen he is in the darke, and muſt walke, but would not ſtumble. They quench the light of Iſrael! As they would the light and influence of the Sunne, vvithout vvhichwhich they could not move the leaſt finger: As they would quench the light and motions of Gods Spirit in them, without which, they ſit in miſerable darkneſſe, and move not, or move to their owne deſtruction. They ſecke his life! They doe indeed; heare them in the Church, or in the Cloſet, O King live for ever. The eternall God be thy Refuge and underneath the EVERLASTING ARMES,Deut 33. 27.Deut 33:27

They deliver their King up into his enemies hands! they ſet him in the Front of the battell! As they would ſet themſelves at the mouth of a Cannon, or thruſt themſelves into the mouth of a Lyon or Beare, bereaved of her whelpes, which will teare the Cawle of their hearts. So they cleare themſelves and their innocency at this point. Ai, but a man is not juſtified by the words of his own mouth.

Well, be it ſo, that their owne vvords cleare them not. See how the Lord cleares them. How? They behave themſelves wiſely, and God is with them; They proceed on and doe exploits, as Men made wiſe by the wiſedome of God, and mighty in the ſtrength of His power: They can ſtrengthen their hand in God; They can encourage themſelves in Him. He hath made an hedge about them; and about their houſe, and about: all that they have on every ſide: He hath bleſſed the worke of their hands; and proſpered the very thoughts of their hearts, Theſe were to promote Chriſt, the Glory, for He is worthy. He hath conſtantly ſhin'd upon their counſels. He or they that can obſerve, and can ſpeak by the Spirit, muſt ſay concerning this people, as Amaſai did concerning David, Thine are we (thou bleſſed of the Lord) and on thy ſide thou daughter of Zion; Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for Thy God helpeth thee dd1 Chro. 12. 18.1 Chr 12:18Indeed He doth, and in all the peoples ſight; They can ſee the Salvations of a God comming in unto them with the ſeale, impreſſe and inſcription of the Wiſdome, Power, Majeſty of a God upon them. Theſe ſervants of the Lord can ſay as David did, My ſoule was among Lyons, but the Lord ſhut the mouth, that Devourer could not ſwallow-up eePſ. 57. 4.Ps 57:4: They did lye among them, who were ſet on fire; yet their garments did not ſmell of the ſmoake. But for the wicked it ſhall not be ſo with them, not ſo with them, that ſeeke the hurt of their King. They may triumph for a ſhort time, and joy for a moment; but how oft is their candle put out, how oft commeth their deſtruction upon them ffIob 21. 17.Job 21:17? God diſtributeth ſorrowes in His Anger. The wicked ſhall be as ſtubble before the wind, and as chaffe that the ſtorme carrieth away: The Lord rewardeth the wicked, and they ſhall know it. Thus and thus ſhall it be to the wicked, but thou Lord p. 60Pſ. 5. 12.Ps 5:12wilt b…eſſe the righteous: with favour wilt thou compaſſe him, as with a ſhield. That's the Concluſion, That the ſalvations of God, great ſalvations, are evermore the portio… of the Church, the Iſrael of God, who ſeeke the p…ace and life of their King; and ſo they can commit their righteous cauſe unto a righteous God, Whoſe eyes are upon the Truth, and will bleſſe thoſe that are children of bleſſing, even according to the innocency of their hands, and integrity of their hearts in this matter, even ſo. Amen.

¶ 1.

I ſhall paſſe-over now a chiefe thing, vvhichwhich muſt be concluded alſo from the premiſes and containes much: I ſhall name it only and no more, and ſo put a Marke upon it for obſervation.

† 1. That the Lord hath a time to bring downe H…s Adverſaries. When? Then when they are a float, when the flood of their pride riſeth to the higheſt; When they ſay in their hearts, They will climbe up above the heights of the clouds, and be like the moſt high ddEſa 14. 14.Isa 14:14; They had an arme like God (ſuch were their proud thoughts) Who changeth the times and the ſeaſons, ramoveth and ſetteth up aaDan. 2 21.Dan 2:21; they could ſl…y whom they would, and whom they would they could keep alive. They could ſet up whom they would, and whom they would they could put down bbDan. 5. 17.Dan 5:17When their heart was thus lifted up, then they came downe mightily; then the Lord was above them, in all wherein they dealt proudly ccExo. 18. 11.Exod 18:11; and made them know that they are but Men ddPſ 9. 10. Vehementiſſimèag. n…ſcant. Iun.Ps 9:10. But this knowledge is too high for them; they will not know in good earneſt, that they are but Men. For truely wee are a ſtubborne Generation, as our fore-Fathers; vvho vvhen they ſaw their fellowes killed vvith plagues, yet they Repented not of the workes of their hands, neither of their murders, nor of their Sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts eeRev. 9. 20, 2….Rev 9:20Rev 9:2. When men have aſcended to that pinnacle and height of wickedneſſe, ſeldome do we reade, that they have repented. But then we reade, as vve now ſee, they have beene tumbled downe thence even then, and great muſt their fall be, when the time comes, that God muſt eaſe Himſelf of His Adverſaries.

† 2. God hath a time to raiſe up His People. When? Then, when Iacob is very l…w, very ſmall, little in all mens eyes and leſſe in his owne. Then, when the Worme Jacob, lying at the mercy of the foot of pride, trampled upon, inſulted over. Then, vvhen the Gyants and proud men of the Earth ſaid to Iacobs ſoule, Bow downe that we may goe over, and he laid his body as the ground, and as the ſtreet to them that went over ffIſa. 51. 23.Isa 51:23. Then God raiſed Iacob up; then He makes them Iſrael, for then His people vvill aſcribe Salvations to their God; to His right-hand all the glory. The Earth mourneth and languiſheth, Sharon is like a Wilderneſse, now will I riſe, ſaith the Lord, now will▪ I be exalted, p. 61now will I l…ft up My Selfe ggIſa 33. 9, 10.Isa 33:9Isa 33:10. For the oppreſſion of the poore, for the ſighing of the needy, now will I riſe, I will ſet him in ſafety from him that puffeth at him hhPſ. 12. 5.Ps 12:5. I ſhould be larger here, wheras I have ſet but a marke for obſervation upon it.

¶ 2.

Now the poore Captives, who beleeve, will not haſten, that they may be looſed iiIſa. 5…. 14.Isa 5:14. They can wait now Gods time, for He waits the fitteſt time to give Deliverance, when His children are fitteſt to receive it, and to let it ſinke downe into their hearts, vvhichwhich they never doe, till they are emptied of ſelf confidence. If Deliverance came not vvhen they would have it, yet they did not die in the pit, nor did their bread faile. Reſcues and Deliverances did come at ſuch a time, when they vvere moſt ſweet and ſeaſonable Bleſſed is the man that maketh the LORD his truſt: And reſpecteth not the proud (not how many, nor how fierce they be) he reſpecteth the Promiſe, and waites Gods time in confident aſſurance, that God will Pſ. 40. 4.Ps 40:4come, bring Deliverance with Him in His owne time, that is ſeaſonably, ever the fitteſt time. And ſo I p…ſſe on unto other Uſes and certain Concluſions here from.

SECT. IV.

We cannot partake of the Churches Priviledges, but we muſt be free of her Corporation.

NOw we will be on the Churches ſide too, for we expect ſuch ſalvations: We will lay hold on her, and will be called by her Name, and expect the ſ…me Almighty hand to be put out for us, and againſt our enemies. Surely, this is a good reſolution, to come under this ſhadow, for here is ſafety, notwithſtanding all the noyſe, hurry and tr…ubles that are abroad. This is the ſure ſide, her Redeemer is ſtrong, He will give reſt to her Land, and He will diſquiet the Inhabitants of Babylon **Ier. 50. 34.Jer 50:34. The Church ſhall ſtand ſtill, and behold the ſalvation of the Lord, that is certaine, notwithſtanding all the ſhockes, they ſhall ſtand; notwithſtanding all the contrivings and policies to bring them to the Brow of the Hill, they ſhall eſcape, and the nearer ſhe is brought, the more glorious vvill her Deliverance be. It is our wiſdome to joyne our ſelves to the Churches ſide, for it is the ſure ſide. Peace, Peace unto her, and Peace be to her helpers, for their God helpeth them.

p. 62But ſtay a little, Let us not runne away with the comfort, as our manner is, and neglect the duty: the Lord hath wrought and doth vvorke great Salvations, as becommeth a great God; and ſeaſonably in the day of trouble. For vvhom? for His Church, yea and for me and thee for His Churches ſake. But our comfort will be ſmall, and of ſmall continu…nce, if we doe not our Duty as the Church doth, She hath beene delivered, I ſay, marvellouſly delivered, that is true enough; but ſee, ſhe prayed for this thing, ſhe vvas importunate, ſhe gave her Lord no reſt. Indeed He told her, He would be enquired for that thing ddEzech. 36. 37.Ezek 36:37, ſo they wreſtled and wept too, and prevailed, as we ſee this day. H… doth guide her by His Councell. Whether? For that ſhe is not carefull, whethet through thicke or thin (as we ſay;) vvhether through rough places or plaine, ſhe is not carefull for that, her Lord hath her by the hand, that's enough, Hee guides her, and will bring her to glory, ſhe is ſure of that; Glory is the end of her way, what troubles ſo ever are in the middle of the way, and in that her heart is aſsured. Take all with it; He guides Her; He leades her; yes, and He commands her, a LEADER and COMMANDER to His people; that is the point, and our leſſon of everlaſting uſe. Would we be a protected people; would we be guided by His hand? (He is a ſure Guide) would we be carried as upon Eagles wings? We muſt then heare His voyce; we muſt obey Him, He muſt command us, and no other, but as they command from Him and lead to Him He is a LEADER and COMMANDER to His People. Take we this comfort and feed upon it, but remember the duty too, a LEADER and COMMANDER to His people. We would be as the Church is, for we would be in as ſafe a condition and harbour, as the Church is. Ai, but ſurely a VELIETY, a would ſo, will not ſerve the turn. There is not a Balaam in the world, not ſuch a ſluggard, but he hath a veliety, a would ſo; he would have plenty and peace both; he would have protection and ſafety; he vvould have it now, but at his end, vvhen he muſt be taken from the Earth, then he would in good earneſt. No matter for plenty then, but for peace. O, but let him lay this to heart, and muſe upon it, vvhen he turnes upon his bed, like the doore upon it's hinges, expecting that ſalvation will come unto him, and drop into his mouth. If he would have peace (for that containes all) he muſt up and be doing, he muſt ſtirre up himſelfe with all his might, he muſt come out of himſelfe, and thruſt out his Idoll, whether one or many, his eaſe, his profit and his pleaſure.

His excuſe will not ſerve the turne, that there is a Lyon in the way, a difficulty he cannot overcome; therefore he will not indeavour it. If he ſaith ſo, and is reſolved to be lazy, and ſit ſtill, I pronounce againſt him this Day, from the mouth of the Lord, That Peace ſhall not b… his portion, but the contrary. When he expecteth peace, behold trouble; he ſhall have wrath with his ſickneſſe; Tribulation p. 63Eccl. 5 17.Eccl 5:17and anguiſh ſhall come upon him like an armed man; and when hee vvould ſolace his ſoule with peace, vvhen he would ſee the Rivers, the Floo…s the Brookes of Hony and Butter ffIob 20, 17.Job 20:17; he ſhall ſee the contrary, that which ſhall amaze and aſtoniſh him, if his heart be not as a ſtone vvithin him: Heaven above him, ſhut againſt him; the grave open to receive him: His ſoule lanching forth into the Ocean of Aeternity, vvhere he muſt vvallow in the ſtreames of brimſtone, and flames of fire; how long? The anſwer thereto ſinkes the ſpirit, for it is the very Hell of Hell, FOR EVER and EVER. We have not a thought that can …each halfe way to the bottome of that Ocean. But this thought of periſhing FOR EVER, of everlaſting burnings ſhall drinke up the ſpirits of a Man, and be within his bowels as the gall of Aſpes. But the ſerious thoughts thereof, now, now, this preſent time, the acceptable time, and day of Salvation, m…y be very effectuall to awaken him, that lyeth downe NOW, as in the midſt of the Sea, or as he that ſleepeth upon the top of a Maſt ggPro. 23. …4.Prov 23:4: To ſtirre him up to ariſe, and call upon his God, if ſo be that God will thinke upon him, that he periſh not hhIona. 1. 6.Jonah 1:6, FOR EVER, puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction, from the preſence of the LORD, and from the glory of His power ii2 Theſ. 1. 9.2 Thess 1:9.

The Concluſion is; if a Man vvould fly from the wrath to come; if he would aſſure his heart, that everlaſting conſolation ſhall be given unto him; if he vvould have peace now, vvhichwhich all the Malignants in the vvorld cannot take from him; if he vvould have a defence, a ſhield over his head now, vvhichwhich the moſt fiery darts cannot pierce through; if he vvould have aſſured confidence of all this, if he be in earneſt and will have it indeed; He will get aſſurance, that he ſhall ſtand now and hereafter, as the everlaſting Hils, and perpetuall Mountains; if this be his will indeed; if this be the very purpoſe and reſolution of his heart, then he will give all diligence, to the full aſsurance of Hope **Heb. 6. 11, 12.Heb 6:11Heb 6:12(that proves his will whether true or not) to do as the Church doth, to obey heartily, to truſt perfectly, to be guided by Him, to walke before Him, and to be perfect. So the Church doth doe, and if we doe as ſhe doth, vve ſhall be as ſhe is, though the Raine deſce…d and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon her houſe, yet a QVIET HABITATION notwithſtanding.

p. 64SECT. V.

We cannot expect to be delivered AFTER THIS SORT, unleſſe we walke in THIS WAY, the way of Gods Commandements.

LAſtly, learne we from hence, to keepe our ſelves in Gods way, there is ſafety in thoſe pathes; the Angels carry us, we cannot daſh the foot therein. We are ſure of protection ſo farre, as wee keepe our ſelves in that path, though it ſeemes over-clouded with the ſhadow of death. In that darke path the Church can walke on boldly and conſidently, though through fire and water, for ſhe walkes under the ſhadow of the Almighty, and in the feare of God all the Day long aaPro. 23. 17.Prov 23:17: Therefore ſhe finds comfort, even where ſhe ſees no light. But if ſhe doth find comfort and light both, yet then ſhe feares the Lord and His goodneſſe bbHoſ. 3. 5.Hos 3:5. She feares at all times, ſhe preſumes at no time; ſhe walkes boldly, but humbly; ſhee doth not lead her ſelfe into temptation; no, ſhe is lead to the Brow of the Hill, or forced rather; but then ſhe is ſure the Adverſary cannot force her downe.

We may note this by the way; it is one thing when a man is driven upon ſtraits; and another thing when he drives himſelfe upon ſtraits. It is one thing to be brought to the brow of an hill; and another thing for a man to bring himſelfe to ſuch a precepice. I may be c…ſt into the armes of God, and be aſſured to be held up by them; but if I preſumptuouſly ruſh-in upon them, I ſhall not find thoſe arms underneath; I ſhall not be held up by them. To preſume, that God will keepe me, when I walk not in His way, is as if a man ſhould hang himſelfe in hope, that one would come and cut the halter.

To cloſe up all; We find ſafety no where but in Gods way, for therin with Iacob, we find a Command and a Promiſe both (theſe are ſtill together) The Lord which ſaid unto me, Returne unto thy country, and Gen 32. 9.Gen 32:9to thy kindred, and I will deale well with thee. The Concluſion then is; if in this way, Eſau, a bloudy perſecutor, will come out againſt the Church, he ſhall not be able to do them hurt, though his wrath ſhould not abate: but …t may be the Lord w…ll ſo over-power his ſpirit, that he ſhall not daſh againſt the Church, but meet them, as becommeth a Brother, with embracings.

p. 65SECT. VI.

An Apology for this digreſſion, if it ſeemes ſo; And a ſhort view or recollection of what was laſt ſaid.

I May ſeeme here to have digreſſed not a little in diſcontinuing the Calender by theſe Uſes or Concluſions, ſo largely inſiſted upon: If ſo it ſeemeth to the Reader. I would deſire him to conſider this; and then if he thinks it a digreſſion, he will think it neceſſary alſo, firſt;

† 1. Tha… (which was intimated before) God wrought then like Himſelfe, … wonderfully, before man was called forth to helpe Him againſt the Mighty. He alone doth wonders: but they are not wonders in our eyes, unleſſe He workes alone. Though we have not many to worke with Him, though but a few, yet theſe few take off much from the wonderfulneſſe of His workes **Miram…r ſi nobis coeleſtis manus aliqu… non praſtet, cui quicquid praſti… terit derog …. Sal. de gub. l. 7. p. …47.; ſuch a regard we have to the arme of fleſh, though a weake arme, and often broken in all the peoples ſight. But, I ſay, before the Parliament was ſummoned, He wrought alone; and then vvas the Adverſary confounded, his ſnares broken; then vvas the Church pluck'd (three Kingdomes at once) as a brand out of the fire aaZach. 3. ….Zech 3; then, at that time, the Church paſſed from the brow of the Hill, through the middeſt of her Adverſaries, and went her way. The Lord knowes how ſhe eſcaped, for ſhe knows Luk. 4. 30.Luke 4:30not. but ſhe paſſed through the middeſt of them, and went her way: A flaming Buſh then, as once ſhe was. But ſee this great ſight! The Buſh burned with fire and was not conſumed. Then came helpe from Heaven, vvhen there vvas none from the Earth: Then rowled-in ſtreames of conſolation, floods of hony and butter, when the enemy and adverſary had ſtopt and dam'd up all her freſh ſprings below. Then came in the ſpring-tide of Deliverance, when ſhe vvas brought to the loweſt ebbe of Diſtreſſe. See the vvorkings of a God **foreign, Chryſ. Tom. 4. ep. 1..

I could not paſſe-over this, and not ſet markes upon it, for it clears forth unto us as the Morning light, (no ſuch demonſtration as this) vvho are the Church indeed; who but in name ſo, and that the MALIGNANT Church. It cleares the Churches innocency alſo, as the Sunne beame: and cleares our duty, to walke exactly, as a peculiar people, if we looke to be delivered; how? So miraculouſly, after THAT SORT, that all muſt ſay, The Right-hand of the Lord did This.

† 2. The Reader may conſider, that in the following Month, I met with that ROOT (the PARLIAMENT, I mean) which beares all our ſweets (here below) our Religion, our Lawes, our Liberties, our Lives; by the good hand of God upon that High Court, p. 66the KING and PARLIAMENT (accurſed be they that divide them, and accurſed be they alſo that ſtrike at that Root) we gather all the fore-mentioned, for our ſelves and our children after us, even all that bleſſed fruit; for there it is as in a common root. Therfore I ſtaid the longer upon that fundamentall bleſſing. Now I can goe on apace, for I am but to bring in theſe after fruits, as they did the Grapes, all in a cluſter: but we muſt view over the leſſons vvee tooke forth laſt, and make a ſhort collection thereof. 1 The Lord hath triumphed gloriouſly; H…s right Hand hath daſhed to peeces the enemy: In the greatneſſe of His excellency, He hath over-thrown them, that roſe up againſt Him. 2. We have ſeene the Salvations of God, great Salvations, therefore the Iſrael of God is here amongſt Exod. 15. 7.Exod 15:7us, a people greatly beloved, Saved by the Lord, for whoſe helpe Herideth upon the Heaven, and in His excellency on the Sky.Deut. 33. 26.Deut 33:26

Laſtly, Would vve be ſo ſaved, then vve muſt be guided as the Church is, according to her Lords WILL, and ſo commanded by Him; if we would be carried as upon the wings of Eagles, then we muſt bee found walking in His way. Thus we have ſeene the ſtrange Overtures and turnings of things in theſe two Moneths; and vvee have obſerved the certaine Uſes and Concluſions there-from, Now vve goe on, to ſet downe the Heads of the after proceedings.

¶ A Tranſition to the next Chapter.

Hitherto vve have obſerved vvhat God hath vvrought vvorking alone, and by His own Arme, bringing Salvations. Now vve muſt obſerve vvith the ſame obſervation, vvhat Salvations Man hath wrought with God, the following Months, as ſtrange as vvas that Salvation, vvhichwhich Ionathan vvrought for Iſrael aa1 Sam. 14. 45.1 Sam 14:45. I have treated thereon ſeverally, not according to the excellency thereof, but after my meaſure, as I vvas inabled, and am reſolved not to mutilate or maim that continued Story by taking any part thence: But which is more ſutable to this place and my ſcope, to ſet downe the Heads therof in as narrow a compaſſe, as may be, and, as the matter can be contracted, to give an abſtract only, leaving the ſpecification of the ſet time (vvhen the Salvations were vvrought) the Month and the day, to thoſe Diurnals, vvhichwhich are vvritten before me (vvhere alſo I blotted a few ſheets of paper) but ſpecially to the vvorthy pains of good M Vicars, vvorthy all acceptation. So I proceed.